History of Law Enforcement

The city of Boston establishes the first system in Law Enforcement called the “night watchers” they were part time without pay.

21st Aug, 1712

City of Boston

The City of Boston hirest the first full-time, paid law enforcement officers.

22nd Oct, 1791

Sheriff

Sheriff Cornelius Hogeboom of Hudson, New York, was shot as he attempted to serve a writ of ejectment becoming the first known law enforcement officer to be killed in the line of duty.

21st Aug, 1835

Rangers

Texas creates what was later to become the Texas Rangers, the oldest statewide law enforcement agency

21st Aug, 1863

The City of Boston

The City of Boston becomes the first police department to issue pistols to their officers.

6th May, 1886

Chicago

Eight Chicago, Illinois Police Officers were mortally wounded during a labor dispute that became known as the Haymarket Riot.

21st Aug, 1893

Police

The first national police group is formed, the national chiefs of Police Union, which would later become the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

21st Aug, 1949

100 police officers

The last year in the United States history in which fewer than 100 police officers were killed in the line of duty. Ninety-eight officers made the ultimate sacrifice.

22nd Nov, 1963

J.D. Tippit

Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit is shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald after he assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

19th Oct, 1984

Ronald Reagan

President Ronald Reagan signs Public Law 98-534, authorizing the Law Enforcement Officers Fund to establish a Memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

15th Oct, 1991

The National Law Enforcement

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C.

28th Feb, 1993

Four Special Agents

Four Special Agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were killed attempting to execute a search warrant at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.